Central Catholic Scholar Speaks To Class Of Memories, Emotions

Valedictorian Amy Gauntner said if she had tripped and stumbled on her way up to the stage, the Allentown Central Catholic High School Class of 1992 would always have remembered the incident.

Gauntner, however, did not fall en route to the podium. Instead of a scene, she gave her classmates words to remember as she addressed the group during graduation exercises in Rockne Hall last night.

"As we get older, things that seem more important now won't seem very important then," Gauntner said.

Gauntner said stories of freshman year experiences evoke memories and emotions, much the way the memory of high school graduation will 20 years from now.

She told her classmates to achieve fulfillment in life daily as well as in the long term. She said the ceremony and excitement should be enjoyed, even though graduates find themselves looking ahead.

"If you think only of the future and not of now, you are depriving someone you know of a cherished memory in the years to come," Gauntner said.

Salutatorian Joseph Baran thanked the faculty of Central Catholic for putting up with numerous cases of "senioritis."

"We need to thank each other for all the fun times," Baran said. "We've been through a lot as a class.

"We must never forget all those qualities that made (the Class of 1992) unique," Baran said.

Academically, the class of 1992 was unique. Vice Principal William F. Tielman Jr. said 94 percent of the Class of 1992 would be moving on to higher education. The group earned a collective $2.3 million in scholarship money, he said.

After the presentation of diplomas, Principal James M. Hodrick thanked the parents and supporters the graduates.

"Without them pushing you, without them choosing to pay for a Central Catholic education, you wouldn't be here tonight," Hodrick said.

The Class of 1992 presented the school with an American flag and a naval flag, commemorating their time at the school.